Means for preventing rattling and lost motion of the steering-arms of ford automobiles.



M. LEADER. MEANS FOR PREVENTING R'ATTLING AND LOST MOTION OF THESTEERING ARMS 0F FORD AUTOMOBlLES APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, ms.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

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MOSES LEADER, OF VIDALIA, GEORGIA.

MEANS FOR PREVENTING RATTLING AND LOST MOTION OF THE STEERING-ARMS 0FFORD AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 3, 1916. Serial No. 101,559.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Moses LEADER, a citizen of the United States,resident of Vidalia, in the county of Toombs and State of Georgia, havemade a certain new and useful Invention in Means for Preventing Rattling and Lost Motion of the Steering-Arms of Ford Automobiles; and Ideclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of thesame, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the invention, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a side view of the steering arm, partly in section, on theline 1-1, Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the steering arm.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the bushing.

Fig. 4: is a similar view of the block.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, partly broken away, of a modification.

The invention has relation to means for preventing rattling and 10stmotion of a pivotal shaft in its bearing, particularly in the case ofthe steering arm of a Ford motor car, and the invention consists in thenovel construction and combinations of parts, as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, the numeral 2designates the steering arm or spindle arm, having at one end a threadedportion 8, for connection with the spindle body or short jack shaftcarrying a front wheel, and at its other end having a boxing 4, whereinis seated a bushing 5, within which fits the connecting rod of thesteering gear.

It is found in practice that the end of this connecting rod, fittingwithin the bushing, works loose, causing rattling and lost motion, andit is the object of the present invention to provide a practical andefficient means, of strong, durable nature, for avoiding theseobjections.

The bushing 5 is split or slotted longitudinally throughout its lengthat 6, to divide the bushing into two halves 7, 7 connected togetherintegrally by the material of the bushing at 8, in spring fashion, sothat one half is movable toward and away from the other half, upon thespring oint as a center.

Bearing against one convex side of the bushing is a block 9, groovedsemi-cylindrically at 10 to fit the bushing side, said block beinglocated in the boxing and movable with relation 4 of the boxing having adepth greater than the diameter of the bushing plus the thickness ofsaid block.

set-screw 12 has threaded engagement with a perforation 13 formed in theside wall of the boxing 4, and bears at its inner end against the outerface of said block, said set-screw having a reduced, unthreaded orsmooth-walled extension 15, engaging a perforation 16 of the block 9,and at its extremity engaging a perforation or seat 16 of the bushing.

In this way, to take up wear and prevent rattling and lost motion, theset screw being adjusted inwardly, the block 9 will be pushed againstthe bushing, and will cause the opposite halves of the bushing to closetogether upon the steering arm, upon the spring joint as a center, thelongitudinal slot of the bushing being at the same time narrowed. Thereduced extension 15 of said screw, engaging the seat in the bushing,will prevent any turning of the bushing in the boxing, which would beprejudicial to a proper tightening of the bushing upon the steering arm,the slot of the bushing and the spring joint of the bushing beingdiametrically opposite and the seat 16 for said extension being spacedapart from the bushing slot and from said spring joint about ninetydegrees providing for a direct movement of one half of the bushing,pushed by the block 9 engaged by the set-screw, toward the other half ofthe bushing, held rigidly against the wall of the boxing.

modification of the invention is shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings,wherein the seat 16 of the bushing is located diametrically opposite thebushing slot 6, in line with the spring joint of the bushing, the freeends of the bushing at the sides of the slot in this case being pushedby the block and screw against the rigid wall of the boxing, to causethe opposite halves of the bushing to close together, and accomplish thesame result.

I claim:

-Means for preventing rattling and lost motion in the steering arms ofautomobiles, consisting of a member having at one end to the bushing,the recess 10 cylindrical grooved a boxing, said boxing having aperforation and a recess, said recess provided at one end With asemi-cylindrical wall, a hollow cylindrical bushing fitting in saidrecess against said semi-cylindrical wall, said bushing having a seatand being slotted throughout its length to provide'two opposite halveshaving an integral spring joint, a block in said recess having aperforation and a semiwall engaging said bushing. a set-screw havingthreaded engagenient with said perforation of the boxing, hearing at itsend against said block, having a reduced extension engaging theperforation of the block and at its extremity engaging said seat of thebushing.

V In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

MOSES LEADER. Witnesses:

R. L. KING, L. BUNSTUSL Copies of this patent may be obtained forfivecents each, by addressing; the Commissioner of Patents,

WashingtomD. G.

